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10+ Best Pet Shampoos For Healthy Skin And Fur

Posted by Lady Bee on February 07, 2017

Whether your dogs and cats have allergies, yeast or bacterial infections, fleas, or they just collect dust and dirt, you want to get them clean with the right stuff. Here are more than 10 pet-tested shampoos, sprays, and wipes to help your dogs and cats be comfortable in their skin, no matter what skin issues they have.

Earthbath carries a line of soap-free shampoos and conditioners for dogs and cats. The main ingredients in its shampoos are oatmeal and aloe. All other ingredients, including special fragrances, are also natural. This particular Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo is scented with vanilla and almond, but the smell is very fresh and mild, not sweet. There are various ingredient compounds at this link, including one for puppies and cats, as well as a fragrance-free blend. All Earthbath soaps are hypo-allergenic, but keep it out of eyes, ears, and mouth.

Bella, in case you're wondering, is the name of the Goldendoodle in the above photo.

Bella's Best is a non-soap, non alcohol, shampoo with strong anti-itch properties, especially good for dogs with moderate-to-severe skin allergies, dry, itchy skin, and/or sores from insect bites. Made from neem oil and oatmeal, Bella's Best has a fragrant orange scent.

Neem has medicinal applications and is used in organic farming. It is a natural insect repellent that is pressed from the seeds and fruits of the neem tree which grows on the Indian sub-continent and in tropical countries.

What I love about Bella's Best is that it not only prevents flea bites but it kills fleas, so you get a super cleansing and anti-itch shampoo combined with a flea repellent that is non-toxic. And there's no need for you to apply toxic flea repellents or room sprays. It has a five-star rating from customers on Amazon. (Don't use in pets' eyes, ears, or mouths.)

Some pets have naturally soft fur and don't need conditioners. And if, for example, your pet's fur is naturally curly, a conditioner might relax the fur too much. But if you have a dog with dense fur, especially one that mats a lot, you might want a conditioner. I have a thick-coated, curly hair dog that matts a lot - so I use a combination shampoo and conditioner.

Nootie is intended to help treat dogs, cats, or horses with fungal (yeast) or bacterial infections on their skin. The active ingredients are chlorhexidine gluconate (2%), an antibacterial, and miconazole nitrate (2%), an anti-fungal. Like a few of the anti-itch products above, Nootie advises that you apply the shampoo before you wet your dogs fur. Rub the shampoo as thoroughly as you can around the fur and let it sit; with Nootie, that's about 10 to 20 minutes. (Don't use in pets' eyes, ears, or mouths.)

Tip - Sometimes it's not possible to thoroughly distribute enough shampoo around a pet without using up the whole bottle. Most shampoos need some water to spread them around.

What I do if a product recommends applying the shampoo before the water is:

mix the shampoo with just enough water to relax the shampoo into a syrupy texture;

spread it around your pet with your hands, massaging it gently into the skin, being careful not to get it into your pets mouth, nose or eyes;

wait for a few minutes or according to directions; then

add enough water to shampoo skin and fur before rinsing thoroughly with water.

Nootie's Medicated Pet Shampoo provides welcome relief to pets with serious skin conditions. Customers report that their pets, dogs particularly, are more calm after being bathed and, additionally, have a shinier coat afterward. (In my experience, cats are never calmer, before, during, or after a bath.)

Well, sometimes you can get away with just 'a lick and a promise.' If it's one of those days when your pet stinks and you don't have the time or the inclination to give him a bath, Bodhi Dog Waterless Pet Shampoo will get your dog or cat's top coat nice and clean and smelling like lavender or lemongrass. It's all natural and it's safe for sensitive skin. (Don't use in pets' eyes, ears, or mouths.)

Of course, you can't give your pets a thorough bath every time they get dirty or stinky. Earthbath Grooming Wipes contain all natural ingredients and subtle fragrances as their full-body bath items, above. These are great for wiping dirty paws, dirty behinds, or for changing your pet's all-over foul odor. Oh, I know you like your pet's odors, but not all of them. (Don't use in pets' eyes, ears, or mouths.)

For dogs and cats with skin problems, such as bacterial or yeast infections, Pet MD Antiseptic Wipes are the way to go between baths. They not only help to protect your pet's skin with chlorhexidine and ketoconazole, but they reduce odors connected with skin ailments.

Stuff gets into dogs' and cats' ears - just like it does in our ears. Wax and dust, smells, and sometimes bugs can be removed carefully with a natural ear cleaner that contains plant-based cleaning enzymes, in this case from coconut and palm. I apply a bit of Mountainview Ear Cleaner in each ear and swab it around and out with a cotton pad.

Hydrocortisone is a common steroid used in low doses as a topical treatment for a variety of skin conditions. If your pet has frequent ear infections or itchy ears due to a fungus, you might want to try Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment. It's a best seller on Amazon, and its price beats its competitors by quite a bit.

Zymox contains a small amount, .5 percent, of hydrocortisone. If your dog or cat has a fungal or bacterial infection, Zymox needs to be applied daily as directed on the package. You should not use this product unless your pet has a medical need.

You know those black tear spots dogs develop around their eyes. They look pretty gross. You can't use shampoo on them, but you can use some of the special products designed just for those spots, products that get your white dog's face looking white again. Pet Couture's Natural Eye-Tear Remover is a 5 star product, endorsed by a lot of Maltese owners! And you can see why....

I had to include the Angel Eye Soft Chews for two reasons: one, because the product is a best seller on Amazon, and two, because soft chews are an unusual way to get rid of tear stains (don't you think?).

Well, it so happens that the reason dogs and cats get tear stains is because they tear. And they tear, generally, because their tear ducts are too small to hold and eliminate their contents through the pets' nasal passages. Therefore, the tears pour out of the eyes, and then, from exposure to the air, they dry up and oxidize. Oxidation is what causes the reddish brown spots along the inside of your pets' eyes and down their facial fur.

Angel Eyes Tear Stain Remover Soft Chewscontain natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients: cranberry powder, Oregon grape root and marshmallow root. These ingredients are buried in some chicken liver which makes your dog want to eat them. The Soft Chews are a long-term (perhaps a month or more) treatment, and you still may want to keep the Pet-Couture Eye-Tear Wipes around.

The above products are all as gentle as can be, as well as effective. They all work to keep your dog's coat, or ears and eyes, clean and disease free. Choose them according to your pet's particular needs.

If you want to save more money on your pet's grooming needs between professional groomings or your dog doesn't require professional treatments, check out these 10 Best Grooming Products For Your Dog.